Broken (2013)

Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

Just finished watching Broken and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Fantastic cast from top to bottom and the story had me gripped from the off.If it isn't on your list of productions to watch then add it!! Well done and 10 out of 10 to all involved.

Broken is directed by Rufus Norris and adapted to screenplay by Mark O'Rowe from Daniel Clay's novel. It stars Tim Roth, Eloise Laurence, Robert Emms, Rory Kinnear, Faye Daveney and Cillian Murphy. Music is by Electric Wave Bureau and cinematography by Rob Hardy. Theatre and Opera director Rufus Norris turns his hand to feature film, choosing for his debut a cunning amalgamation of British miserabilism and knowing humour. Story is based in North London and primarily centres on a young girl affectionately known as Skunk! She witnesses a sickening act of violence in the cul de sac where she lives, from here the lives of the residents unfold in a number of identifiable ways. Thematically there's much going on, such observations on life's dilemmas from both a child and parenting point of view are superbly played out by the cast. It would have been easy for the makers to lean too heavy on the melodrama, or perform as if it's a headline torn straight from one of Britain's sensation yearning tabloids, but it's played with earthy realism, helped no end by the fulcrum setting of a residential cul de sac that on the surface looks normal, so therefore believable. But of course what lies behind a neighbour's door is rarely all glint and gold.The concurrent theme of violence, illness, heartbreak, grief, so basically life's strife's, gnaws away at the senses, but this is delicately balanced with much love and charm also on show, be it devotion to one's children, or the innocence of youth - puppy love/whimsy/ignorance/inquisitive leanings et al - this picture jabs at the heart in more ways than one. Norris and his team also have a nifty style of filming and scoring, very much putting us in the various frames of this story. It all builds to what in truth is a very crammed last quarter of film, because if ever there was a case for a much longer running time then this is a classic example. But it's just a niggle, and not enough to derail what is a moving, funny and crafty slice of Britannia. Yes! Even if the daring ending has proved divisive. 9/10

Emily 'Skunk' Cunningham witnesses Mr. Oswald beating fragile Rick Buckley in his driveway at their cul-de-sac. Oswald found a used condom in his oldest daughter's bed and he forced her to come up with a name. The condom wasn't her's and picking Rick was a lie. Rick is released from jail and he doesn't press charges against Oswald. Rick starts to be a recluse in his parents' home. They are afraid of Oswald and Rick is hospitalized. Skunk's au pair Kasia is dating Mike (Cillian Murphy). Her father Archie (Tim Roth) tries to talk to Oswald but he's a vicious bully and so are the three Oswald girls. Skunk starts her new school. Mike is her teacher and she gets bullied by Sunrise Oswald.This has a dreamy chipper quality with the darker material. Young Eloise Laurence is a charming lead. Cillian Murphy and Tim Roth are the big names with supporting roles. It's a quirky coming-of-age movie that keeps peppering it with darkness. Skunk is reminiscent of Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird" in both looks and function. My main reservation is the redemption of Mr. Oswald. It's undeserved and convenient all at the same time.

'Broken' is an excellent example of just how good British drama films/series can be when they are done right. The film is straight to the point and develops at a good pace with lots of different things going on between the various characters.There is a lot of characters in this film (3 different families who are all neighbours) and we see how their lives are affected by various going ons. This film really doesn't hold back, some of the scenes and subjects will be uncomfortable for some viewers. I really didn't like the Oswald family but the story really wouldn't have worked without them.I really liked how parts of this film where done, we would see something happen unexpectedly and then it would flashback to show the build up to it from a different perspective. The story linked together really well. It is very engaging although some parts are unrealistic.The acting in this film was nothing short of superb from everyone. There was a lot of familiar faces but the star of the show has to be Eloise Laurence who made her acting debut in the lead role as Skunk.It's a shame this film probably won't get the recognition it deserves due to it being relatively unheard of. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good dram film, you won't be disappointed.8/10.